When India coach Stephen Constantine was asked in the pre-match press conference about the weight of expectations from a team that has not won a single match in the AFC Asian Cup since June 1964, his answer was straightforward: “That’s about to change.”
Change it did, at about 7:20pm local time at the Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, in front of a motley crowd of just over 3000 people, about three-quarters of whom were supporting India ahead of their opponents Thailand.
Half-time: India 1-1 Thailand.
Full time: India 4-1 Thailand.
A brace from Sunil Chhetri, and two lovely finishes from Anirudh Thapa and Jeje Lalpekhlua.
India had not just beaten Thailand, but they had done it in some style.
India didn’t just kick the form book and the old records out of the window, it felt more like a defenestration, especially their second-half performance.
Remember, this is a team that hasn’t been part of the Asian elite over the last eight years, and has been more of a rebuilding project for Constantine than a ready-made team that he took over. More than 30 players have been handed debuts since Constantine took charge of India a second time in 2015, and there were a number of starters on Sunday who haven’t been part of the full team for even a complete year.
Two of them — Ashique Kuruniyan and Anirudh Thapa — were thrown into the deep end by the coach for Sunday’s clash. Ashique was sent in to partner Chhetri at the top of the attacking third, and played a perfect complementary role, dropping wide from time to time, rising up to receive high balls and generally scything through the nervy Thai defence in the early stages. Thapa had a slightly more rough baptism, letting Thai central midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin run a few useful bits of play through the centre in the first half, but he showed terrific big-match temperament in how he came out in the second half.
He was never shy of throwing himself about, but his gut-busting run to free some space for India’s third goal summed up the energy and will of the Indian team on the night. He opened himself as an option for a diagonal ball from the left, and then made run further right to leave the ball for Udanta Singh to pick up. Udanta turned his marker and laid it up for Thapa, who waited for the goalkeeper to commit before chipping the ball into the top left of the goal.
The celebrations that followed summed up the unity in India’s performance on the night – Thapa celebrated with Udanta, while Chhetri, the senior marksman and the architect of India’s bright start, pointed to the two youngsters.
It’s just the first day back in Asia’s elite for India, but the future looks bright.